It begins! Calls for NHS lanyards to be removed because of the Nowak killing

[SocialistMammy]

I suppose this knee-jerk over-the-top reaction was inevitable.

There are calls today - including from Kemi Badenoch - for public sector staff, including the NHS! to stop wearing "political" lanyards.

These could be just showing that you're a decent person who opposes genocide, or that your patient is safe with you regardless of your sexuality or gender identity when they are being treated.

And this is all because .. of the murder of Henry Nowak.

So, despite the calls from Nowak's family not to politicise their poor boy's death - that's EXACTLY what the far right are now trying to do. And the NHS has NOTHING to do with that police officer.

Where this is heading looks very ugly - we've got a World Cup starting shortly, and that's going to mean England flags being used to attack minorities. Will footballers have to make statements about diversity being anti white? Probably - it feels like the far right think this is their time now and ANYTHING is up for grabs.

It will be lanyards today, deportations tomorrow. Mark my words.

I thought suggestion to remove political symbols from NHS unforms had more to do with this?

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jun/04/nhs-to-tackle-antisemitism-after-report-finds-jewish-staff-and-patients-routinely-ostracised

"NHS to curb political symbols on uniforms after antisemitism report"

edited to include headline

Being a decent person who opposes genocide or that your patient is safe with you should be the standard and shouldn’t have to be signalled via the wearing of a particular lanyard.

There are nuances always but sometimes the signalling support towards a particular group may exclude another group.

Anyone who works for the government should be supportive to everyone and therefore no performative support allowed.

I don't think this has anything to do with Henry Nowak's murder.

Lots of companies have this policy. The one I work for does.

These could be just showing that you're a decent person who opposes genocide, or that your patient is safe with you regardless of your sexuality or gender identity when they are being treated.

I generally assume people opposed genocide unless they tell me otherwise. It's kind of the default position.

It should also be the default that all patients will be safe with NHS staff, they shouldn't need a special badge to show it.

No it isn’t. It’s the result of a long running enquiry into anti semitism. Please don’t use one tragedy to deflect onto another issue.

No public sector worker should be wearing any political/lobbiest/protest group/campaign lanyards or badges/tshirts.

Mine has the name of my local authority on it.

This. I'm absolutely not far right but personally I feel less "safe" with those of my colleagues who wear rainbow lanyards.

When I worked for an airline and had a uniform which meant we were the same as everyone else. No badges or jewellery. I don't see nhs uniforms as anything different.

if I was Jewish and saw someone wearing a Pro Palestine lanyard, I’d be intimidated. We all know the affiliations these people have and the undeniable link to antisemitism.

Your politics have no place at work (lanyard, marches, badges etc) You are there to do a professional job. If I ever were to wear my work uniform to a political march I would be fired on the spot as it associated my employer with that sentiment. Can you not see this as a matter of common sense?

So Kemi Badenoch is 'far right' now?

You’re the one that’s politicised his death by assuming the lanyard thing was related. It isn’t and a 10 second Google will have told you that.

When I am ill in hospital I really don't want to be confronted with the political, religious and ideological beliefs of the staff. Of course they are entitled to hold those beliefs but they are not relevant to their ethical and professional responsibilities.
I can imagine that Jewish staff and patients would feel fearful and intimidated by some of the badges worn by staff.

@SocialistMammy if you ask MNHQ they'll let you change your thread title so that it's not a blatant lie

I wouldn't assume everyone opposes genocide.

Lots of people justify what is happening in Gaza and dont recognise it as a genocide.

Lots of people are anti lgbtq and maybe someone would feel safer getting treatment from someone who doesn't judge them.

Don't be so utterly ridiculous OP. There is no place for politics at work. At all.

Keep politics out of work, particularly tax payer funded work.
Just because you have opinions about LGBT and Palestine you don’t need to present it to the public at work as you deal with the public without fear or favour, whatever opinions they have with your mind on the job.
Any political protest or activism that you do on your free time is your own choice.

Just mass hysteria.

Yes plenty of transactions make lanyards for pride/ LGBT

what organisations make lanyards for pro palastine?

What a dismal fall in standards that anyone wears badges of any description on their uniform and gets away with it. 30 years ago Sister would have spotted it a mile off and you’d have removed it pronto.
As for wearing uniform of any sort outside the hospital… nope.
Total lack of professionalism

Good. NHS lanyards aren’t the place for any kind of politics.

So I support the Greens or Palestine or the IDF or Restore.

I oppose genocide (Gaza) or genocide (Great Replacement).

I can do it on my own time, not at work in a public service where trust is paramount.

Well this is great news then. Some silver lining from that horrible event.

Why you think patients need to see their doctors’ TERF badges, IDF solidarity pins or Restore rosettes to feel safe and included is beyond me.

Can you explain?

Whereas if you don't wear a lanyard, we can only assume you do support genocide, and beat up gay patients?

Knee jerk over the top? Should never have been allowed in the first place!

“Safe” how?

Good. Healthcare is no place to signal your personal beliefs. Other workplaces don’t have little badges and lanyards making political statements.